Is There Really a Difference Between Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero? Here’s the Truth All Diet-Conscious Soda-Lovers Need to Know

Most soda lovers have very discerning palates. For instance, it’s a rare occurrence to come across a fizzy beverage hound who drinks both Pepsi AND Coca-Cola products–these consumers have built fanbases that are held together by a very strict set of brand loyalty standards. If you have ever worked in the foodservice industry, then you know about this culinary preference well. Let’s just say it’s a uniquely distressing experience to be yelled at by a customer because your restaurant only carries Pepsi, not Coke products!

But, triggering memories from our college job aside, soda really is a fascinating thing. Let’s look at the range of Coca-Cola products, for example. There are so many different variations of the classic drink that it can be hard to keep track–especially when it comes to their “diet” selection.

According to its website, Coca-Cola has two separate no-calorie brands in its U.S. market– Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero. If you’re a diet soda drinker, you’ve probably sipped on either of these fizzy drinks, at one time or another. For many, they’re interchangeable, but, believe it or not, their formulations are actually very, very different.

But, before we get too deep into the flavor profiles, let’s take a look at some of the more obvious differences between the two Coca-Cola products…

The many differences between Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero

To better understand the key contrasts between,the beverages, we first must consider their histories.

When it comes to staying power, Diet Coke has Coca-Cola Zero beat by decades. That’s because Diet Coke was first introduced way back in 1982, making it only the second brand in the beverage company’s, at the time, 100-year history. On the other hand, Coca-Cola Zero is very much a new brand. It wasn’t introduced until 2005 and was even reformulated just a couple of years ago, in 2016.

Since their launches, the Coca-Cola Company has expanded both brand portfolios to include a number of different flavors. Currently, Diet Coke has 17 different variations on the market, including ones with caffeine-free, natural sugar, and added fruit flavors. Coca-Cola Zero has less, just 6 different variations. It, too, boasts caffeine-free options, added fruit flavors, and even a Coca-Cola Clear brand, which was launched in Japan earlier this year.

Random, but true!

As you can see, Coca-Cola has gotten really creative with both brand portfolios, when it comes to flavor variations, especially. The many options are something that both Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero have in common, but the one thing that sets them apart is their very INTENTIONALLY individual flavors.

Intrigued yet? You should be!

Now that you’ve learned all about the history of these two iconic no-calorie Coca-Cola brands, and the many variations that fall under their umbrellas, it’s time for you to finally find out what the REAL difference is between them. Watch the video below to unlock the answer. We don’t know about you, but we’re really craving a Coke right now!

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We’d love to hear your thoughts on this Coca-Cola mystery solved. Were you surprised by the answer? Which one do you prefer? Are you more of a Pepsi or Coke person?